Sharrie Williams, author of The Maybelline Story, is an original descendant of the Maybelline family. Her Great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, founded the Maybelline Co in 1915. Family photos, stories and memorabilia further expand the Maybelline Saga.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Old Hollywood Glamour at the Star Studded Premiere of... "All This and Heaven Too"

Wednesday June 13, 1940Excerpt from Jane Allen's diary while visiting her uncle at the Villa Valentino.

This has been one grand
day. Annette and I were up at a quarter of ten for an appointment at
the hair dressers.

Emery picked us up in time for breakfast at one.
At 4:14 we went to Max Factors for make-up. Glamour girls no less.

The big affair of attending the world premier of “All This and
Heaven Too,” started about eight o'clock

when a limousine picked
up Annette, Arnold, Emery, Tom Lyle and me, and drove over to get
Emery's friend, Lona Woolsey.

The whole party were certainly dressed
up, all the boys in tuxedos and the girls in formals.

The premiere
was at Carthay Circle. The crowds simply jammed the streets as we
arrived. The police, both on foot and mounted, were trying to hold
the people back, but each person was trying to get a glimpse of the
Stars.

The limousine stopped to let us out amid hundreds of lights
and lots of cameramen. An announcer with a microphone was in front
to announce the different stars as they arrive. They stared at us
too, but we fooled them. We were just ordinary people. The long
pass way from the front to the entrance of the theater seemed miles,
with thousands of people staring, hoping each would be a Star. The
walkway was lined with large gorgeous bouquets of flowers. These I
didn't see as I walked in because I was so excited and nervous.

After we were inside the theater, we stood around to see as many stars
as possible. We saw Jimmy Stewart with Olivia de Haviland,

Jeffry
Lynn,

Andrea Leeds,

Ann Miller,

Preston Foster,

Stewart Erwin,

and
Don Ameche.

After walking around for a while we went into the
Theater. Carthay Circle Theater is not very large but very beautiful.
Furnished without consideration for cost. Carpet was beautiful red
velvet and gold curtains.

Charles Boyer,and more that I
just can't remember now. The picture was very good. Was over about
Twelve midnight. We had our long walk from the entrance to the
driveway again, with lots of spectators looking for stars.

On our
way out, we saw Gene Lockhart,

Elsa Maxwell

and Hedda Hopper.The
announcer gave us a thrill calling Mr. TL Williams' car waiting. We
were just like the big shots.

From Carthay Circle we drove to Ciros,
the swankiest nightclub in Hollywood. Certainly couldn't have
gotten into the place without reservations, as the club was jammed.
Ciros is a beautiful place, very modern and very colorful.

Just as
we entered we saw Robert Taylor,

Barbara Stanwick,

Jack Benny, Mary
Livingston,

Edward Arnold and his wife,

Andrea Leeds and her husband,

Bette Davis and her party sat right next to our table. In fact her
chair was bumped right up next to my chair.

Constance Bennett and
her party was a table on the other side next to our table.

and Louise Fazenda. Most of the stars we saw at the
Premiere were also at Circos. Never in my life have I ever seen,
heard of or expected to attend such a gala affair It was the height
of formality and considered the social occasion of the season in
Hollywood. After several drinks, frosted daiquiris, we had something
to eat and got home about 3:30 am. Believe our party was the last to
leave Ciros. Don't think I ever enjoyed any activity so much in my
life. The memory will be something to go over again and again.See this article in Niche Magazine...Visit my hilarious 1964 Saffrons Rule blog at http://saffronsrule.com/